Upala KBR (MID-DAY; November 21, 2017)

At 17, Zaira Wasim boasts of a feat that many Bollywood stars, double her age, are struggling to achieve. The youngster’s second film, Secret Superstar, has collected Rs 121 crore worldwide, thus making her the youngest lead actor to have a 100-crore grosser to her name.

Ask her how she feels to be part of the elite club that includes the likes of Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar and of course, her Secret Superstar co-actor Aamir Khan among others, and she laughs, “I have not been aware of the collections so much. It’s great that the film has done so well worldwide but for creative people like us, what matters is how the audience connects to the film emotionally. I am really overwhelmed when people come and tell me they loved the film.”

Point out to her how she has possibly the brightest minds in the business as mentors and she cuts in, “I don’t agree with the thought that they [Khan and wife Kiran Rao] are my mentors. They are family for me. Whenever I need any advice, I speak to them. They are just one call away.”

Much like Khan, Wasim too is extremely choosy about the projects she gives her nod to. Admitting to being flooded with film offers, she says, “I haven’t liked any of the offers as of now. Let’s see [what my next project is]. Right now, I am going with the flow.”

Adding to her list of achievements, Wasim also received the 2017 National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement from President Ram Nath Kovind last week. “It’s a privilege to receive an award from the President. This is my second National Award, so I feel really honoured. I hope I continue to do good work for society, especially women and children.”

While she is Bollywood’s not-so-secret superstar, she throws a curveball on being asked whom she considers her favourite star. “I don’t watch a lot of films, but my favourite star would be Sanjay Mishra. The kind of movies he does is amazing!”